Seasonly plump... all year round

First off, I have to mention I should totally be studying right now, but of course it's in those life-or-death moments that I get my best inspiration. So I am just not to be held accountable for what happens tomorrow. When I become a famous writer, it'll look cool, I swear mom!

Anyhow! The initial inspiration for today's little talk is from a poster I saw around McGill today, mentioning a "fat talk free zone." Basically McGill is now creating areas where stuff like "I hate my body", "I look pregnant", "I'm on a diet, I can't eat that" and the likes are forbidden. At first I thought, "well with all these _____-free zones, soon we won't be able to speak AT ALL", but then actually I changed my mind.

The freshman fifteen didn't hit me until last year, when my courses got seriously intense and my social life seriously diminished. Like Miranda in that Lizzie McGuire episode, I felt like food was the only thing I still had control over. And then somehow I used that control to lose control? Anyways. This year I'm trying really hard to get back on track, but it's tough because I'm so busy I have to make decisions like gym vs. sleep. I got my gym membership. I just have yet to make it there. AT LEAST I'M HONEST ABOUT IT. So it's been tough, I got all weight conscious for a bit, and then I began seeing it a lot around me. From sick gym obsessions to eating, like, one carrot per day, I see it all in my program. There's also the weird diets like only eating soup, or thinking water is a meal.

Then on top of that people are constantly talking about their bodies, like how they gained 0.000001 lb and their size 00 doesn't fit anymore and the world must therefore end...  It just drives me nuts. If I didn't like food so much, I would have definitely developed some eating disorder by now. Unfortunately lettuce and me are not on the best of terms, so that's never gonna happen.

Ok I got slightly side-tracked here. My point is fat free zone = warranted. And tell me where it is, I should probably make that my new living space.

But what I'd like to get at tonight is that I've noticed it's all a sham. People are Miranda, they try to control their weight, but there's other, bigger issues.... 100% of the time. For someone who doesn't really believe in endless complaints when there's a solution, I'm not a fan of avoiding one's problems. If you're overly stressed, see someone about it. If you're tired, take a nap (Josh reference from Project Runway). If you're lonely, get involved. There's an easy fix for most of the problems people have. And for some reason everyone chooses to go and take the difficult route, make themselves miserable over it, and focus elsewhere.

So people, let's shed the pounds..... by shedding the dead weight. Whatever the issue, I swear there's a solution. But you have to want to fix it permanently...

...not just diet for a while.

The poster that inspired this post!

#21: Have breakfast at Beauty's

In 1949, this cute little newlywed couple started a lunch counter slash supply store. Eventually, customers got used to eating lunch there that they came knocking on a Sunday around lunch time. Brunch was served, people raved, and Beauty's was born.
Now it's a Montreal landmark, with a mega long waiting line outside (we showed up juuuuust before it got crazy).

Cute fact 1: It's named after the husband's bowling name.
Cute fact 2: It still looks like a 50's diner.
Cute fact 3: The husband was still definitely there when we went. All 80 years old and stuff.

Delicious fact 1: Best hash browns I've ever had. Ever.

Why, thank you!

Last year (and many times before that/since then), someone called me a bitch. For some reason, that time I got very upset. It's tough work being a woman with a big personality. Anyways at that moment, my roommate marched in with a quote that completely changed my perspective on the whole thing and every time I read it again, it makes me want to speak a little louder, express my ideas/thoughts a little more, and overall just stand with my head held a little higher. Yeah, it's tough being a woman with a big personality. But it sure beats sitting on the sidelines.

"Whenever anyone has called me a bitch, I have taken it as a compliment. To me, a bitch is assertive, unapologetic, demanding, intimidating, intelligent, fiercely protective, in control - all very positive attributes. But it's not supposed to be a compliment, because there's that old, stupid double standard: when men are aggressive and dominant, they are admired, but when a women possesses those same qualities, she is dismissed and called a bitch.

These days, I strive to be a bitch, because not being one sucks. Not being a bitch means not having your voice heard. not being a bitch means you agree with all the bullshit. Not being a bitch means you don't appreciate all the other bitches who have come before you. Not being a bitch means since Eve ate that apple, we will forever have to pay for her bitchiness with complacence, obedience, acceptance, closed eyes and open legs. "

- Margaret Cho

So now when I get called a bitch, I answer, "why thank you!"

A little bit about nothing

Remember The O.C.? I boycotted that show for YEARS based on precisely nothing. Then I got to university, got sucked in and watched all four seasons. They now also sit proudly on the mantle of my fake fireplace. Now why am I talking about The O.C.? Because at the moment I have absolutely zero inspiration/time to write, but I wanted to post something (also give a shoutout to whoever is following my blog from Germany).

So here is my all-time favorite scene from the show. I should point out I fully plan on trying it one day. I already make Grey's Anatomy-worthy speeches in my head while dramatic music is playing.

#28: Have a fancy dressed up outing

Lovely partner in crime Madison and I selected Cavalli, an upscale Italian-esque restaurant. Note to self: should have probably photographed the food maybe? Anyways my food was delicious, my drink was pretty much the best thing I've ever had, and the company was lovely.

I'm voicing my opinion!

Little recap for the unaware: for the second time in my undergrad time at McGill, there's a major strike going on. The first time was in my first year, when the TAs went on strike, and it resulted in one of my profs having to mark 1000+ exams and his decision to give no partial marks (I got 2/6, which I'm actually pretty pleased with). Now, it's a much bigger strike that has pretty much alllllll the university support staff on strike. We're talking receptionists, technicians, lab peeps (special shoutout to Frank because I love him so much)..... Pretty much think of anything, and trust me those people have something to do with it. McGill is firm in their belief that students remain mostly unaffected, and after the millionth thing went wrong today, I lost my mind. So I took matters in my own hands and did something dramatic:

I emailed the principal of McGill University.

Secretly I feel super awesome. And I kinda like what I sent, so I'm posting it here for all of you!

"Dear Principal,

I would like to officially take you through my day to show you how badly the strike is affecting us students.

This morning I went to McGill Health Services to get blood works taken, as asked by my McGill doctor. But of course, the technician is on strike, so I have to go to the Montreal General on my own time, terms, and money to get said tests done.

Then I proceed to my 4th year chemical engineering reactions class, a class I've been looking forward to since I got into engineering. But of course, we're told the lab is cancelled due to the strike, and so we'll have to content ourselves with a youtube video instead this semester. At this point I have to mention, engineering at McGill (or chemical anyways) is already so little practical experience, now we flat out get NONE?

After class, I'm hungry, so I make my way to the cafeteria in McConnell. My parents and I worked out a food budget where they put some money on my card for the semester, since I spend so much time on campus and have little free time to make meals. But of course, I'm told there's no money on my card, which surprises me since I filled it up last week. I'm told it could take a month or until the end of the strike, because a girl today came in and said she filled it on the first day of class and it STILL hasn't gone through.

After having to pay cash for my meal instead, I go meet one of my professors, who told me he might have a research project for me. But of course, I'm told the project requires lab technicians who are on strike, so the project is cancelled.

Do I need to keep going? Because there are so many more, equally frustrating stories due to this strike. I know there are a lot of important matters at hand, but I think you've all lost the focus here: you are a UNIVERSITY. Your focus should be your students. Instead, we're getting the short hand of the stick and picking up all the negative consequences of this strike. So don't say we're not affected. And maybe it's time to start thinking how you can better the situation for us.
Because without students, McGill is nothing.

I hope this letter will urge you to better an unfair situation for us.

Sincerely,

Elisabeth
U4 Chemical Engineering "

If I can't eat it, I'll blog about it

During a momentary bout of insanity, I decided to attempt this very hardcore diet for the next few months. It's not that I'm trying to drop 100lbs or anything crazy like that, but I figure it would be great to rid myself of my non-stop cravings for sugar, junk food in general, and carbs. Another plus with this diet is portion control, so I figured I could learn to eat less and still function normally. Yay!

Except not. Ok maybe it's because the fifth day is the hardest (pretty sure I'm making stuff up?), but EVERYTHING LOOKS DELICIOUS today. Things I don't normally eat look ah-mazing today. I never cared much for cheese, except maybe one little slice of brie per six months. But now? Now I want to put cheese on everything. Also I know I live in Montreal which is like home of smoked meat (and my next statement will not please a lot of people), but one bad trip to very greasy joint Schwartz's left me totally turned off. Then today I see one of the engineering cafeterias now offers smoked meat sandwiches, I see one being made, and now it's all I can think of.

I feel a little better talking about it. And right now, I need to take a moment to curse all you skinny girls with your stupid fast metabolisms. I want to curse every guy who's ever called me "curvy" or "filled out" (it's an insult in disguise). And finally, I want to curse my parents (in a respectful manner) for a little conception hiccup that left me "filled out" and my brother all skinny.

You know, because of all the problems stated above, I'm left having dreams about cheating on my diet. I'm left watching my best friend eat all he wants while I go hungry (slash snack on celery) even though he's the anorexic one in this relationship. And I am left thinking maybe I can use my engineering degree to make "healthy" chocolate.

Just a thought.